Canada Has Weed Shortages After Legalization

Canadians celebrated this week following the official legalization of cannabis in the country, making Canada the second country in the world to do so.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had made legalization of cannabis one of his key campaign promises when running for election back in 2015.

Canada is the second country in the world to legalize cannabis for recreational use after Uruguay.

Medicinal cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2001 and medical dispensaries are already commonplace, however, this is the first time recreational sale and use of marijuana has been fully legalized in the country.

The federal government has estimated that tax revenues of around $400 million dollars will be raised as a result.

Canadians were so eager to get their hand on legal marijuana that the country is already reporting mass shortages.

The Montreal Gazette reported that 42,000 orders had been put through in the province of Quebec on day one alone.

Long queues of customers looking for a legal high have been reported all around the country.

The first person to buy legal weed was Ian Power from the province of Newfoundland.

Power had been first in line at midnight and said that it was always his dream to buy the first legal gram of cannabis in Canada.

Speaking to state broadcaster CBC, former police chief in Toronto Bill Blair “We expected, you know, certain strains might run out and there would be a bit of a run on supply”.

Blair has helped lead the government’s legislative programme added: “But, you know, they’ve got a pretty good infrastructure in place and I’m confident it will work.”

Prime Minister Trudeau has said that the aim of legalization was to keep marijuana out of children’s hands to prevent criminals from making money from selling weed illegally.

New legislation means adults in Canada are now permitted to possess 30 grams of dried cannabis or its equivalent.